Method and device for image display

• US 6,937,400 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2002
• Issued: 08/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CK Management AB
• Original Assignee: CK Management AB
• Inventors: Olsson, Kent
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Hung Xuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARTINEZ, JOSEPH P
• Application Number:
  US10/484,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20040174605A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,134 Days
• Field of Search: 359/462, 359/464, 359/466, 359/473, 359/475, 359/477, 359630-633, 345 7- 9, 348/115, 362/103, 600/109, 600/166, 600/160, 600/475, 600/477
• US Class Current: 359/630
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00048 Constructional features of the display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00193 adapted for stereoscopic vision
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0132 comprising binocular systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0134 of stereoscopic type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/194 Transmission of image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/344 with head-mounted left-right displays

Abstract

An object (3) is imaged and, after image processing, an image is displayed on a head-mounted display (10) in front of the eyes of a user of the display. The display (10) is constructed with two display modules (13, 14) for displaying the image, designed to be positioned in front of each eye within a limited section of each eye'"'"'s field of vision, the display modules being arranged each to show a separate image and being designed to leave the field of view free towards the surroundings at least downwards and to the sides of the user. The display modules (13, 14) are advantageously arranged to show two different images, one in front of each eye, so that the user experiences a stereoscopic image with a perception of depth in a part of his field of vision at a predetermined distance in front of his eyes.

Claims

1. A device for displaying an image, comprising:

a holder that is arranged and adapted to be worn on a face of a user and that has a bridge section that extends across the user'"'"'s face above the user'"'"'s eyes in use;

a frame that is removably attachable to said bridge section substantially parallel to said bridge section and that is arranged and adapted to be above a field of view of a user in use;

first and second image screens that are each within said frame spaced apart from each other by a first distance;

first and second image screen light sources that are each within said frame adjacent to a respective one of said first and second image screens; and

first and second prisms that each depend from said frame into a field of view of a user and that are spaced apart from each other by a second distance, said first and second prisms obscuring ambient light while allowing a user to receive ambient light from below and beside said prisms,

said first and second image screens projecting respective images into corresponding ones of said first and second prisms, each of the respective images having a dark border therearound, wherein the respective images together form a three-dimensional image for a user.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the second distance is adjustable.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein centers of said images are approximately 2-12°

below a horizontal plane through a user'"'"'eyes during use of the device.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein diagonals from one side to another side of each of said prisms subtend an arc of no more than 50°

of a field of vision of a user.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein diagonals across each of said images subtend an arc of at least 15°

of a field of vision of a user.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said images are round.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first distance generally corresponds to a distance between a user'"'"'s eyes.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said holder comprises a pair of lenses that depend from said bridge section into a field of vision of a user.

9. A Method of displaying a image, the method comprising the steps of:

arranging a holder on a face of a user, the holder having a bridge section that extends across the user'"'"'face above the user'"'"'s eyes in use;

removably attaching a frame to the bridge section substantially parallel to the bridge section, the frame being above a field of view of a user in use;

providing first and second image screens within the frame spaced apart from each other by a first distance;

providing first and second image screen light sources that are each within the frame adjacent to a respective one of the first and second image screens; and

providing first and second prisms that each depend from the frame into a field of view of a user and that are spaced apart from each other by a second distance, the first and second prisms obscuring ambient light while allowing a user to receive ambient light from below and beside the prisms,

projecting respective images from the first and second image screens into corresponding ones of the first and second prisms, each of the respective images having a dark border therearound, wherein the respective images together form a three-dimensional image for a user.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of adjusting the second distance.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the images are round.